Nation digest 05/10/05

Two second-graders found stabbed to death in Illinois

ZION, Ill. -- Two second-grade girls who disappeared while riding bikes together were found dead Monday, both stabbed multiple times and left to die off a bicycle path in a park, authorities said. A resident walking through a wooded nature area in the park discovered the bodies of 8-year-old Laura Hobbs and 9-year-old Krystal Tobias at about 6 a.m. The parents of one of the girls had reported her missing about 8:50 p.m. Sunday. Watkins said no weapons were found and there was no evidence of sexual assault. Zion is about 45 miles north of Chicago.

Spokane mayor taking leave to fight allegations

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Embattled Mayor James West said Monday he will take a leave of absence for a "few weeks" to prepare to defend himself against a newspaper's allegations of child molestation and that he offered city jobs to men he met online. West told the city council that the molestation allegations reported in The Spokesman-Review last week were false. An hour after West's announcement, the paper posted a new story on its Web site alleging West offered city jobs to two young men he met through a gay Internet chat room -- and that one of them briefly accepted a city appointment.

Florida attorney general to run for governor

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Attorney General Charlie Crist became a formal candidate for governor Monday when his paperwork was delivered to Florida elections officials by "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh. The decision to enlist Walsh, whose 6-year-old son Adam was kidnapped and murdered in Florida 24 years ago, signals Crist's desire to highlight his crime-fighting record. Crist earned the nickname "Chain Gang Charlie" for his tough stance on crime when he served in the state Senate in the 1990s. The filing kicks off a Republican contest to succeed Gov. Jeb Bush, who is barred by state law from seeking a third term.

Low-fat dairy may lower risk of diabetes in men

CHICAGO -- Eating low-fat dairy products may help slightly lower the risk of developing diabetes, a new study of more than 40,000 middle-aged men suggests. Each additional serving of low-fat dairy per day resulted in a 9 percent drop in risk. The link could be due to whey proteins or magnesium, ingredients thought to enhance the action of insulin in regulating blood sugar. But those ingredients are contained in high-fat dairy products, too, so researchers said they don't really know what caused the drop in risk. They cautioned against making major changes in diet based on the study. Eating dairy could be associated with some hidden factor the healthier men shared that was reducing their risk of diabetes, said Dr. Frank Hu, one of the study's authors.